Vinfolio Blog | Wine Posts - Industry News & Collector Resources

Which Wines Should Be Decanted, and for How Long?

Enjoying Wine, FAQ, ServingBy Vinfolio Staff January 17, 2017

Knowing which wines should be decanted is an essential skill, whether you’re a casual wine drinker or a serious collector. Nearly all fine wines, especially young ones, benefit from some decanting, as the process releases subtle aromas and flavors in the wine. However, while most wines—young or old, valuable or inexpensive—can be decanted, that doesn’t mean you must, or should, decant every bottle. To find out which wines should be decanted and for how long, follow your eyes and nose, consider the bottle’s age, and make an estimate based on the wine variety and style. This guide will walk you through this decision process so you can enjoy your wine at its best.

Identifying Reviews of Counterfeit Wines: Do We Really Know What Older, Classic Vintages Taste Like?

Collecting, Enjoying Wine, Fraud, Reviewing, TastingBy Ryan Brignole January 16, 2017

Like a stone thrown into a pond, the ripples of wine fraud impact more than just one collector’s cellar. What happens when a professional wine reviewer can’t tell a fake bottle from a real one by taste? Collectors rely on professional reviews for accuracy, but when these reviews are compromised by fraud, it’s virtually impossible…

Stumped on New Wines to Try? Here’s How to Get Out of a Wine Rut

Buying Wine, CollectingBy Vinfolio Staff January 13, 2017

It happens to me all the time: I get obsessed with a new varietal, and I buy so much of it that I dig myself into a wine rut. That succulent Australian Syrah I tried last year might put me down the path of Mollydooker, then Torbreck, then Penfolds, and before I realize what’s happening,…

Revisiting 2012 Bordeaux: The Sweet White Wines That Are Worth Your Time

Bordeaux, Collecting, Investing, Producers, Wine RegionsBy Vinfolio Staff January 11, 2017

The last time I was in France, I found some surprisingly delicious 2012 Bordeaux in a wine shop on the outskirts of Paris. This was surprising because I’ve listened to collectors and wine critics alike complain about the subpar quality of 2012 Bordeaux, especially the sweet white wines. Uneven flowering followed by mildew made the…

What Is the Best Temperature to Serve Wine?

Enjoying Wine, FAQ, ServingBy Vinfolio Staff January 10, 2017

Over the holidays, I found a couple bottles of Argentinian Torrontes that I decided to store in my wine fridge. At an ideal serving temperature of 40 degrees, the Torrontes was peachy and absolutely delectable–the vintage was so good that I decided to bring one of the bottles to a dinner party so I could…

This Month in Your Cellar: Slim Down Your Cellar with a New Year’s Wine Resolution

Collecting, Investing, Storing WineBy Vinfolio Staff January 9, 2017

Whenever I see an amazing deal on wine, I’m tempted to invest in it, even if the wine itself doesn’t excite me very much. Last year, I spent about $350 on two cases of wine that wasn’t collectible because I thought I was getting them for a steal; almost 12 months later, a few of those bottles…

Unwanted Holiday Bottles: How to Repurpose or Regift Wine Now That the Holidays Are Over

Etiquette, Holiday, Selling WineBy Vinfolio Staff January 6, 2017

As a wine enthusiast, I rarely get what I want when the holidays roll around. Most of the time, my well-meaning friends and family will get me a couple of wines from Trader Joe’s, or yet another corkscrew. By the beginning of January, I usually have a cabinet full of mass-produced California Cabernet (or worse,…

Hidden Gem of the Month: 2013 Realm Cabernet Sauvignon Is a Wine to Be Savored for Years

Buying Wine, Collecting, Investing, Producers and Wineries, WineriesBy Ryan Brignole January 5, 2017

Some of us don’t have the time nor patience to wait for a wine to mature by 2045. If you’re the type of collector who wants a wine that will last, but that you can still safely drink in its youthful vigor now, 2013 Realm Cabernet Sauvignon from the Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is a…

Is Storing Wine with Synthetic Corks Different from Storing Wine with Real Corks?

Collecting, FAQ, Storing WineBy Derek Cienfuegos January 3, 2017

I’m reasonably skilled at opening wine bottles, but I’ve had quite a few synthetic corks break in half recently. One was a high-quality bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir whose synthetic cork was sealed so tightly to the neck of the bottle that it broke off into four separate chunks as I tried to pry it…

Unicorn Wines: Sine Qua Non 1995 Queen of Hearts Was Never Meant to Be Sold At All

Collecting, Producers and Wineries, WineriesBy Harley Hoffmann December 30, 2016

Few things will make you feel more privileged than drinking a wine that isn’t officially on the market. I once had the chance to try a homegrown wine that a friend of my family made purely for his own entertainment, and even though it was a bit syrupy, it had a ton of character, and…

Should Wine Critics Rate a Corked Wine? The Ethics of Wine Reviews

Buying Wine, Collecting, Enjoying Wine, ReviewingBy Ryan Brignole December 28, 2016

Wine seller John Kapon recently reviewed two DRC jeroboams, giving the 1999 vintage a high score of 96. There was just one problem: the wine was corked. Kapon admitted this in his review, but claimed he could taste around the flaw. He wrote, “The quality of the raw materials was clear, present, and dangerous.” But…

How Do I Make My Wine Cellar Earthquake Resistant?

FAQ, Storing WineBy Derek Cienfuegos December 28, 2016

In 2014, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Napa Valley in the early dawn hours, shattering thousands of bottles of wine. Winery owner Marguerite Capp told Reuters that she lost dozens of bottles in her tasting room just two weeks before their peak tourism season began. She was caught completely unprepared, saying, “Mother Nature moves on…